The former All-Colonial Athletic Association catcher replaces former coach Billy Godwin – no relation – whose contract was not renewed last month after nine seasons at ECU.

Cliff Godwin played for the Pirates and coach Keith LeClair from 1997-2001, helping the Pirates to a 169-76 record, three NCAA regional appearances and one Super Regional berth.

He began his coaching career at UNC Wilmington, where he was credited with helping catchers Neal Eichhom and Chris Hatcher earn all-conference honors in 2004-05. Godwin also spent a summer as head coach of the Coastal Plain League’s Wilmington Sharks and has paid his dues as an assistant at Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Central Florida and LSU before arriving at Ole Miss.

His current team advanced to the College World Series, where it advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated by Virginia.

“It is an honor to be in a position to lead the East Carolina baseball program and serve my alma mater,” Godwin said in a statement. “I consider it a privilege to carry on Coach LeClair’s legacy and represent not only the guys I played with, but all former Pirates who have made this a special place. My goal is to provide a product on and off the field people will be proud of and to develop good baseball players and even better human beings.”

I think Cliff is a good hire. Part of Coach LeClair’s legacy needs to be a spirit, a toughness, an overwhelming desire to succeed against any types of odds. I never got that “feel” when Coach Billy Godwin was in charge In fact, I felt the opposite, that the program underperformed. Here’s hoping that Cliff Godwin can get that “We’re going to Omaha” mantra back, because it’s mighty hard to make it to Omaha when you don’t even make the NCAA playoffs.